Holders Burntwood booked their place in the final of the Staffs Intermediate Cup after overcoming Uttoxeter.
They worked hard at times to subdue the visitors but pulled away in the second half with 22 unanswered points.
With no fixture this coming Saturday, coach Graham MacDonald kept the same line-up that had beaten Wolverhampton in the league just four days earlier and they made the ideal start after two minutes.Scrummage ball was moved out wide to the backs and Matt Wood was sent clear from 25 metres to run round to the posts for a try which he also converted.
If the hosts thought the tie would be a formality following this bright opening, they were made to think again. Uttoxeter found their feet and dominated possession for a 15 minute period during which they had two kicks at goal, the second of which was successful to make it 7-3.
Wood finally turned the flow of play with a long range punt down the right touchline. A promising attack ended when Ollie Whitehouse couldn’t take Wood’s quick pass on the left wing.
However, five minutes later they did extend their lead. Graham Shelley fed half back Brett Taylor from a scrum 25 metres out. He chipped over the visitors’ defence, re-gathered and touched down for a fine opportunist try.
The hosts played well up to the break, turning defence into attack from half way, prompted by Lloyd Shelley, Mark Poole and Taylor.
Craig Seedhouse’s kick through to the corner was fumbled which almost allowed Lloyd Shelley in but the ball was knocked on.
Burntwood continued to probe but their only reward was a penalty goal by Wood on the stroke of half time.
Five minutes after the restart, Wood added another penalty following a burst by Lloyd Shelley which took play deep into Uttoxeter territory.
At 18-3 down, the visitors tried to mount a comeback. They forced a series of infringements by Burntwood which resulted in home flanker Tom Restall being yellow carded but there was no change to the scoreline.
With 25 minutes to go, Jack Neale and Matt Sishton replaced Taylor and Amrit Derry respectively. Whitehouse moved to scrum half and made an immediate impact with a strong run between the 22s. The forwards were put in good position by Seedhouse’s deep kick and after driving at the line twice, the ball went out to the backs. Luke Briggs cut in and almost made the line but Sishton was there to complete the score.
With Restall back on and Tony Davies replacing the impressive Rob Cartwright, Burntwood sealed their passage to the final with two converted tries in the last ten minutes.
After turning over Uttoxeter possession, a good attack ended with a Seedhouse chip through which Lloyd Shelley grounded for Wood to convert. Then from a scrum 25 metres out, Whitehouse went on a lightning burst to the left and around the visitors’ defence to the posts. Wood converted to complete the scoring despite a late flurry by Uttoxeter who were denied twice in the left corner.
The final will be against Tamworth at Lichfield RUFC’s Cooke Fields ground on May 8. The final will form part of the Staffordshire President’s Day and will be preceded by the Owen Cup Final.
Burntwood’s next action is away to Yardley & District on April 9, a fixture which forms part of their President’s Day. The only fixture this Saturday is the 2nd XV away to Stoke Development XV, a sideshow event to Stoke’s Midlands RFU Intermediate Cup Final v Market Rasen & Louth.
